Scottish Catholic Observer

S2 pupils from St Kentigern’s Academy, Blackburn, recently took part in an exciting project in which they were asked to take a look back at their earliest years in life and explore how they had developed since.

The St Kentigern’s group were working with Space Unlimited, a Scottish business charity that sets out to challenge our ways of thinking.

Space Unlimited’s aim is to spark fresh insight in business and the charity works to help leaders get a new understanding on business issues, challenges and new situations.

The charity has specific programmes aimed at helping to understand the mindset of young people.

Vaiva Gikaite was among the St Kentigern’s pupils who joined a group of young mothers working with Space Unlimited for three days in January. She shared some of her experiences with the SCO.

“The government has a question that needs answered. ‘What really matters in the early years of life?’ she said.

“Space Unlimited, a middleman company, was called in to help. Space Unlimited listens to the ideas of people who aren’t always asked what they think.

“A group of 13 second-year pupils explored this, looking back at their childhoods and observing what caused their lives to be the way they were.

“It turned out that nursery had a huge impact in the early years.

“When at nursery, children learn what is considered to be the basic building-blocks of life. But, even before the nursery years, mother and baby classes could also have an effect. Basically, between the ages of 0-5, interacting with the world around you is vitally important because your brain is growing rapidly even in the first three years of life.”

Following research, discussion and the arrival of a film crew, all of the information gathered by the pupils had to take the form of a presentation.

“Much to everyone’s embarrassment, a behind-the-scenes video was shown,” Vaiva said.

“Afterwards groups of pupils delivered a series of presentations and joined in discussions on different topics such as nursery and mother-and-baby classes.

“A play was also prepared, which was the highlight of the day. Then all the points brought up were discussed between the presenters and the audience. Everyone left with a lot to think about.”

A further evaluation session took place back at St Kentigern’s three weeks later and depute head Mrs Gallagher commented that the pupils excelled themselves throughout their participation in the project.

“The pupils are all excellent talkers,” she said. “I’ve never been more proud of a group of pupils I’ve taken out of the school.”